Operation Yukthiya

Operation Yukthiya
Date17 December 2023 – present
(2 years, 3 months, 1 week and 2 days)
Location
Sri Lanka
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

Sri Lanka

Drug dealers
Commanders and leaders
 Unknown
Casualties and losses
100+ killed (including shootouts, extrajudicial killings and deaths in custody),[1][2][3][4][5] 121,957+ suspects arrested[6]

Operation Yukthiya (Sinhala: යුක්තිය මෙහෙයුම, lit. 'Operation Justice'), also known as Sri Lanka's Drug War[7][8] is an ongoing anti-drug trafficking operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Police following directives from the Ministry of Public Security.[9]

History

2023

Beginning on 17 December 2023, the police, Special Task Force and Sri Lanka Army carried out islandwide raids and military-backed crackdowns against drug trafficking, with 38,525 suspects being arrested as of 17 January 2024.[10] Authorities seized hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs, valued at approximately 4.7 billion Sri Lankan rupees.[10] Then-incumbent Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles stated that crime rates across the country fell by 17% within the first month of the operation.[11]

On 25 December 2023, underworld figure Don Indika alias ‘Manna Roshan’ and his accomplice were killed during a clash between two rival underworld gangs.[12]

2024

On 18 January 2024, a lorry driver was shot and killed by a plainclothes police officer during a stop-and-search in Narammala.[13]

On 22 January, five people were shot dead by drug traffickers near the Beliatta exit of the Southern Expressway, including leader of the Our Power of People's Party Saman Perera.[14]

On 30 March, notorious drug trafficker “Location Kudu Malli” was arrested by the Badalgama Police and was caught with 6,120 milligrams of drugs.[15]

2025

On 11 February 2025, convenor of the Nawa Sinhale National Movement Dan Priyasad was arrested and remanded by police for an investigation over an alleged incident of forcing the Nan Eriya Police OIC not to arrest a drug trafficker in 2024.[16]

On 19 February, notorious drug trafficker and organised criminal "Ganemulla Sanjeewa" was shot dead at the Aluthkade Courts Complex by an assailant disguised as an attorney.[17]

Human rights violations

Operation Yukthiya has notably drawn criticism from the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, and various other human rights groups,[18][19] who have expressed concerns over the mass arrests and potential human rights violations.[20][21] Tiran Alles dismissed criticisms and reaffirmed his commitment to the operation.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Letter to President Dissanayake Regarding Human Rights Recommendations for the new Sri Lankan Government". January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "SL sees alarming rise in shootings, murders, and fatal accidents in 2025". Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  3. ^ "Surge in shootings amidst intensified crackdown on crime". Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  4. ^ "'යුක්තිය මෙහෙයුම': 'මෙයින් සිදුවන්නේ අපි හැමෝම අනාරක්ෂිත වීමයි'". Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  5. ^ "Sri Lanka troops kill police officer in botched drug raid". Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  6. ^ "Sri Lanka: Country Report" (PDF). Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  7. ^ "Sri Lanka's Drug War: 2,554kg of ICE and 40 Million Pills Seized". 11 November 2025.
  8. ^ "In Sri Lanka, the Army Is Engaging in a New War on Drugs". 17 January 2025.
  9. ^ "Police commence operation 'Yukthiya' to eradicate drugs and underworld". Daily FT. December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "One month into 'Yukthiya', authorities hail it as a success". The Sunday Times. January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Crime rate down 17% due to 'Yukthiya'– Minister Alles". Ceylon Today. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Underworld figure 'Manna Roshan' and accomplice found shot dead". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  13. ^ "Lorry Driver Killed in Narammala After Alleged Accidental Discharge of Police firearm". 19 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Five people shot dead near Beliatta Exit of Southern Expressway". 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  15. ^ ""Location Kudu Malli" arrested". Adaderana. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  16. ^ "Dan Priyasad arrested". Ada Derana. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  17. ^ "'Ganemulla Sanjeewa' killed in shooting inside Aluthkade Court Complex". Ada Derana. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Pressure mounts on govt. to halt Operation Yukthiya". The Island. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Sri Lanka: Stop Abusive Anti-Drug Operation and Release Those Arbitrarily Detained". Human Rights Watch. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "UN experts call on Sri Lanka to immediately suspend and review 'Yukthiya' anti-drug operation". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "The 'Yukthiya' Operation – Press Notice No: HRC/P/i/E/08/01/24" (PDF). Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Minister Alles says 'Yukthiya' operation will continue". Ceylon Today. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
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